GOOD NEWS!

So, finally the news I have been waiting for.

Got my x-rays yesterday and they looked good. But of course not being an expert I had to wait to see what the surgeon said.

I was honest and said I had been walking on it more than he suggested, he laughed as I think he expected that, and said it had only really been for my own protection anyway.

He said that I had healed a lot faster than expected, and that I was good to go. No rules with physio, push it as hard as I can. And to wear the boot only when I go out, simply for fatigue. I can tell you right now I have not put that boot back on! I can see how I may need it if I was on my feet all day but drove to work without it today, and it feels great. Aside from a little swelling but I think that will be the case for awhile.

I am on track for my goal of heels for my best friends wedding and snowboarding by the end of March. Initially he wasn't going to have me come back but with my goals in mind I am going back for one last check up in 4 weeks.

So I think laying off alcohol, soda, caffeine, and taking all those supplements has really helped. 8 weeks since I initially injured myself and now I am walking unaided, it is simply the best feeling ever.

I see the physio tomorrow for some treatment and exercises to start strengthening and regaining movement and lost muscle mass, so shall update again after that.

Happy Valentines Day!

Good News

Ok, so have been kinda slack since I got back to Aus... a broken laptop plus catching up with friends and fam I haven't seen in over 12 months has kept me busy!


So I saw the surgeon, he was great, as was the news. Pretty much just explained to him the whole scenario and showed him my x-rays and post op report. He sent me off to have another x-ray right then, and then come back and talk some more.


I can't put them up as they are hard copies but the x-rays looked good. It's amazing in 4 weeks how much healing can happen. You can hardly see the break in the Tibia, and the Fibula looked great compared to straight after surgery.


I had voiced my desire to be in heels by 24th March for my best friends wedding, and back on a snowboard by 28th March, and also emphasized my dedication to recovery. The amazing news is that it's quite possible, albeit taking it easy... His response was that in most cases he would be wary but with age, health, and doing all the right things (no alcohol, caffeine, etc) on my side, I would stand the best chance.


Instructions were that I could start 50% weight bearing, and continue ROM exercises. Bad news was no swimming, PT or driving until after my next appointment mid-Feb. I suppose you can't have everything but these were all things I have been desperately looking forward to! 


Advice, when you go to the surgeon, take notes. I forgot half of what he said!


So I am going back for x-rays and my follow up appointment next Monday. My ankle has been feeling great. Working out 50% weight bearing was a bit tough. Basically the way to work it out is find a set of scales and push down until it shows 50% of your weight. This actually feels like a lot more pressure than you would expect! For the first week I continued to get around on 2 crutches, but then started experimenting with 1. First few days this was tough, but now I actually find it easier to put that 50% weight on my foot, and get around. I actually feel fine with no crutch but don't want to push my luck... The first couple of days after going down to one crutch my calf hurt at night, I think just from getting used to being used again, but now it is fine, which hopefully means it is slowly building back up again.


I only wear the boot when I walk now, I keep it off the rest of the time. A few reasons for this. Firstly I can move it more, it is more comfortable, and the heat. I got an infection in the last tiny bit of incision that hadn't healed last week, and was on antibiotics for the last week to clear it up, which it appears to have done. Apparently this is a common thing due to the heat here, bugs breed :/


So now just waiting for next Monday and another round of good news!

Not the News I was Hoping for...

Sorry for the delay in update folks... back in Aus now...


So. Went to Denver and went to my appointment. First up saw a nurse who explained my cast would be removed, an Ortho attendant would come and talk to me, then my stitches would be removed. 


So cast off first... was a bit anxious as I was concerned what it would look like, how it would feel, and most importantly, how hairy my leg would be haha... Had a buddy in the room with me - pressure! This is how it looked.

So it actually looked a whole heap better than I expected (apart from the hairyness haha) and didn't feel nearly as weird/foreign as my wrist did after surgery.

Next the ortho came in. I was expecting to meet my surgeon, but no. The doctor checked out my x-rays then informed me a plaster cast would be re-applied. My friend in the room told me my face dropped immediately. Straight away I queried this as I had been told pre-surgery I would get an air boot at this point. He responded we could do this. It was at this point I started to get concerned... When he returned from looking at my x-rays I asked about physical therapy and he informed me that it would not be necessary. This worried me, but I didn't say too much. But I am a very active person, who wants to get back to riding ASAP, and I have metal in me - yet he was comfortable suggesting PT wasn't necessary??!! What the shit??? I know from experience with my wrist, getting it moving as soon as possible, and PT for strength are both incredibly important when getting back to sport and recovering quickly.

And then it got worse. He suggested I should not ride until next season. As in next northern season. This varies from the attending surgeon who told me pre-surgery I would be riding again by March. And this is where I really became concerned. I voiced this, and wait for it... his advice was to drink milk. Seriously? Seriously dude? I am off booze, soda and caffeine. I am taking multi vitamin, calcium, magnesium and fish oil, and eating well. Drink milk? WTF.

So the nurse came back in and removed my stitches. Not fun kids. She was great, and brought some humour to the situation. I wouldn't say it hurt, but not the funnest experience I have had. Then she fitted my boot.

This is great because I can remove it to shower... YAY!! And also move it. I am being very careful as to what I do, because again the doc was so vague as to what I could do. The follow up really was just shitty. Ok, I understand a lot of people are probably not committed to recovery, but it's not like I failed to inform him of my dedication to getting fit quickly.

So after a lot of thought on the drive home I decided to document my concerns to my travel insurance. My worry was that I just had no real idea of what I could do to help speed up recovery, what was safe to do with my ankle, and when I would be able to ride again. All I had was my next follow up date.

The next morning I got a call from my travel insurance. They informed me that as I had already had surgery they had no obligation to assist any further, but they were concerned about my follow up care. As a result they were willing to fly me home. But they wouldn't fly me back to the states (they would have if I'd had surgery back in Aus). I decided if I have any chance of recovering fast, this was the best option. The upside of all of this? I would be flying business as I need leg room.

So flights were booked for Wednesday 11th, flying Air Canada. And.... no business class in Air Canada so got to fly first class! Yeah baby!

Definitely devastated to leave Colorado but this is my best shot at being able to go back there this season.

Flights were great, was wheel chaired or put on a buggy in Denver, Vancouver, Sydney and Perth. The Air Canada flight was great, my seat turned into a bed so I slept for 9 of the 15 hours. Going back cattle class next time is going to be a killer. Hardest part of all of the flying was having to give myself a DVT injection. Had one before I left but they only last 24 hours, so I had to do it myself. Not fun when you have a fear of needles. Luckily is just done in the fatty part of the stomach, but the needle itself freaked me out!

So now I am back in Perth and it is HOT! Like 35 degrees (nearly 100 degrees F). Quite a shock from the below freezing temps I have been living in for a year. I am seeing a top ankle ortho back here tomorrow for a second opinion. Basically I just want to see someone I trust for an opinion, an idea of when I can start weight bearing, what PT is safe, and when I can ride again. There was just so much uncertainty in the US, I believe this is the best option.

My ankle has been feeling good and swelling has gone down a lot. This is what it looked like straight after I got home from Denver and having the cast off.

The swelling has gone down a lot. I have been doing gentle movements but nothing too extreme until I see the surgeon tomorrow. It is stiff but I think with some PT it will be good. I am hoping I can start gradually weight bearing, as I am going crazy on crutches, and just want to start getting it strong again!


So I will update again after I get a clearer idea of what happens next when I have seen the surgeon.

Pics of the Injury

This is a picture of my actual injury.

The above two are after it had been put back into place (as well as possible) and splinted.

This is a picture of what my leg looked like straight after I broke it, I had a splint and dressing applied at the clinic at the Winter Park base.

This is a picture of what my leg looked like after surgery (and a little bit of love from my buddies, much worse now haha). It is a combination of padding, plaster, bandage and tape.

Excited for Tomorrow

So, head off to Denver tomorrow to get follow up, cast off and stitches out. Excited would be a massive understatement.


First and foremost I am excited about getting this damn thing off my foot. It is annoying to shower, and past couple of days has gotten slightly itchy. My heel hurts where it presses against the back of the plaster. Showering is going to be so much more enjoyable. Not so excited about what my leg is going to look like. 2.5 weeks in a cast will not equal a sexy leg, and hoping the scars not too big or bad either.


Also just excited to go to the city. I love snow seasons and mountain life but cabin fever does come into the equasion after awhile, especially when you are stuck on the couch most of the time. Driving, picture taking and a little bit of window shopping are all on the agenda.


Will update again after my appointment!

Tips and Advice so Far

So, my cast does not come off for another week so I don't have much more to report on that front. When searching the net when I first injured myself I wanted to know what other people had gone through and what advice they could offer, so I thought I would share what I have learnt so far.


Keep your leg elevated and iced as much as possible, both after the initial injury and after surgery. This will help with swelling and more importantly pain. The faster the swelling goes down, the faster the pain goes away. Above your heart is best, but if you are venturing out just up on a chair also helps.


Keep on top of the pain. Keeping on top of it with meds is a lot easier than trying to catch up to it. I am 9 days post surgery and am only taking meds twice a day, once when I get up, and once when I go to bed. But if I feel like I need them, I take them.


You will be exhausted at first. One trip to Safeway and I was exhausted, light headed, head spins, and hot. I could only get so far before I had to sit down. But this will get better.


Vitamins. I am taking calcium, multivitamin, magnesium, fish oil and liver support tablets. The first four are all proven to help promote and assist bone and wound healing. I am taking the liver support tablets to help counter the meds and the stress they're placing on my liver.


No alcohol! I know I know, it seems like it one of the only things that can help! But, alcohol = swelling. I had 1 glass of wine on Christmas and within minutes I could feel the swelling. Not to mention meds and alcohol are not friends. It's personal choice but I am also avoiding caffeine and soda while I am healing, as there is research to support that these slow bone healing, and I want to be fit and healthy as quickly as possible. I am eating as much fresh food as possible and avoiding any processed food. Dairy, fresh vegetables and nuts is my main diet at the moment.


Without going into too much detail, make sure you are getting enough fibre to counteract the meds. I have oatmeal mixed in with my yogurt.


Showering. Tiring process! My method is a trash bag over my cast and taped on with sports tape. I then sit in the tub with the shower running. A chair in the shower is another option. It is so important that you do not get any water near the cast, particularly if you have had surgery. Water in cast = stinky, but with stitches it also = infection.


Exercise. Muscle wastage happens faster than you could ever imagine. There is not a great deal you can do for your injured leg, but quad squeezes are a must. You will be spending a lot of time sitting so these are a must. Simply tighten your quad, hold for 5 seconds, and release. I repeat this during the day constantly. This will assist your recovery when the time comes to start walking again. The more you can focus on your ankle alone the better. Also google other exercises as you can still exercise the rest of your body. This will help with boredom and health.


With all of the above I am comfortable being out and about and have the energy to do that. I am feeling good and so is my leg, so let's hope it's good news next Friday!

What Next?

So now, the waiting game. I have a week and a half until my cast and stitches removed and find out how everything is going. I am praying everything is healing ok, as I have a month long road/snow trip in Cali planned for April, so I need recovery to stay on track with no complications. 


All going well I should be able to start walking beginning of February, so I am hoping with 8 weeks to have rehab/physio and gain as much strength back as possible to be fit and strong to make the most of spring riding in Cali, as well as be strong for our season back home.


As I mentioned in my first post I was meant to be here for the majority of the season. I was staying here until 12th March, then heading back to Australia for a wedding, and then returning to the states at the beginning of April for my road trip. I am now planning on heading home early. As much as this kills me, lying on the couch here is doing me no good. And by the time I am due to be fit enough to ride it would be time to go anyway. So I figure I will go and have a bit of summer for the first time in awhile, see my fam who I have not seen for over a year, and focus on rehab and getting as fit and well as possible. I am yet to decide when I will go, I was thinking when I can start walking again as I don't fancy trying to drag 100 pounds of luggage through several airports and deal with 30 hours of travel whilst still on crutches. I am going to wait until my appointment on the 6th and see how the healing is going, and make a decision from there. Just the thought of being away from the snow kills me, but a little bit of beach and summer won't be so bad, and I can't ride anyway... I plan on returning to the states a week early to come back to Winter Park to see my mates, and with any luck ride a whole lot of pow before I head to Cali. 


So until my appointment I am just planning on more chilling and taking it easy on my ankle.